PAUL'S KERIS PAGE

The Hilt

The hilt of a keris is a sculpture in miniature. It is mostly carved
from wood but every conceivable material can be used from horn to ivory
to silver or gold and even fossilized mammoth tooth and Tridacna shell. 
Designs, however, tend to be traditional and 20th century innovations are
rare. Keris hilts descend from lifelike representations of a man. Islamisation 
has caused the evolution of the original hilts into very abstract 
representations where the barest outline of a man can be discerned. Only in
Bali, which remains Hindu, do you see lifelike representations of man, gods 
and beast.

In Javanese, the hilt is called Ukiran while in Malay it is called Hulu.
Unlike most other blades, the hilt is not always permanently affixed to the blade.
It is secured to the blade by a strip of cloth, string or hair that is wrapped
round the tang and then inserted into the hilt. The tightness of the fit is
controlled by how much cloth you wrap round the tang. This has two
advantages; it allows the hilt to be turned to allow it to have the best 
match to shape of the hand, and to allow the hilt to be changed and
varied according to the economic situation of the owner.

Sometimes a resin is used to secure the hilt to the blade. The resin, 
when cold, solidifies into a strong adhesive but with heat, it softens and
allows the blade to be removed. A firm fit yet easy removal of the
hilt is possible with this resin. Many are of the view that this was the 
traditional way of securing the hilt to the blade and the the use of 
cloth or hair is a recent development.

A working knowledge of hilt design can help you place where a 
keris is from. In Central and East Java, most keris hilts are the abstract
seven plena hilts. North Java has its own keris hilt forms. In Cirebon, the 
main hilt form is that of a squatting long haired demon or raksasa.
Madura has a stylised human form that is heavily decorated with foliage
either inscribed, pierced or in relief; one form maintaining the 
profile of a man, another deviating away some what.  Madura hilts have added
much Dutch influenced designs such as epaulettes, crowns, coat-of-arms, 
helmets. One particular attractive Madura form is the "corn-cob", also heavily
decorated with foliage.

In Sulawesi, Sumatra and Malaya, the main form is the Jawa Demam;
the "Fevered Javanese". Many believe that it is an abstraction of the 
Garuda because of its beak like projection. However, there is strong 
evidence that it is an abstraction of a man as more primitive examples 
clearly shows hands, feet and teeth which the Garuda lacks. If you study
early forms of the Java Demam from Pelambang and Tegal, you will notice
that the "beak" is actually a enlongated nose. The abstraction of the 
Jawa Demam varies from highly stylised as in the case of Patani 
and Palembang hilts to highly abstract in the Malay or Bugis form.

In Perak, there is a hilt form, which I think is a recent development;
a hilt in the form of a parrot. In Moro or Sulu pieces, the 'cockatoo'
pommel is well known. Some Riau sundangs have similar pommels, though 
some have realistic representation of a parrot's head rather than a stylised
figure. The Perak Parrot hilt could have developed from this.

In Bali, you find a whole range of hilts from figural representations
of Demi Gods to the intriguing 11 chequered hilts to functional plain
hilts with hair wrapped around it. Blainese hilts are larger 
than most and more erect given that the Balinese keris blade is 
longer and larger than most and used for cutting and stabbing

Click to where you want to go

1.  The Keris - Forward & Contents

2.  The Keris - An Introduction

3.  The Blade

4.  Details of the Blade

5.  Dapur

6.  Pamor

7.  Pamor Types

8. The Hilt, Sheath and Other Fittings

9.  The Hilt

10.  The Hilt Rings

11. The Sheath

12. The Mystical Aspect

13. Why I like the Keris...A technical and Cultural View

14. References

GALLERY

LINKS

Keris Cleaning During Muharram

THE Friends' Gallery

If you want to talk keris mail me at :
dspf@pacific.net.sg